Marvel’s Devils, Detectives and Heroes for Hire

There’s no denying that DC/Warner Bros. has continued to dominate television with its many live-action and animated programs for years. Marvel has certainly tried to compete with shows like Agents of SHIELD, Ultimate Spider-Man and Avengers Assemble, but they haven’t exactly achieved much critical success. They’re looking to change that with their Netflix series starring many of their popular street level superheroes.

The heroes in question include Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist. Each are said to be getting their own series which will later bring them together for a crossover mini-series called The Defenders.

Last week, new images were released showing Daredevil (Charlie Cox) still wearing a very early version of his costume. Reminiscent of the black suit first seen in Frank Miller’s Daredevil: The Man WithoutFear, the costume, setting and look of the pictures point to a show that is the complete opposite of something like Agents of SHIELD in terms of tone and style.

If anything, the show seems to be taking on the appearance of a gritty-crime drama instead of a series about heroes and supervillains battling for the heart of New York City. If this is Marvel Studios’ first legitimate foray into the morally gray aspects of their cinematic/television universe, then Daredevil is the perfect character to do that with. Plus, if the showrunners and writers manage to avoid the awkward humor and poor character development that has plagued shows like Agents of SHIELD, then they’re already off to a fantastic start.

In addition to the newly released images, Marvel announced yesterday that Mike Colter will star as Luke Cage in Marvel’s A.K.A. Jessica Jones, an all-new 13-episode series starring Krysten Ritter (Breaking Bad) as Jessica Jones, a former hero turned private detective. The series is set to premiere on Netflix in 2015 following Daredevil.

Marvel’s Head of Television and Destroyer of Beloved Comic Characters Jeph Loeb (Batman: The Long Halloween, Ultimatum, Nova) commented on the casting and praised Colter as the “perfect” actor to embody the role of the Hero for Hire.

“Fans have longed to see Luke Cage and in Mike we’ve found the perfect actor. Viewers will get to meet Luke Cage in Marvel’s A.K.A. Jessica Jones, and experience why he is such an important super hero in the Marvel mythos.”

While Loeb isn’t exactly the best litmus test when it comes to judging quality (this is the man whose hands are in such “quality products” like Ultimate Spider-Man and Agents of S.M.A.S.H.), Colter has certainly been trying to make a name for himself in a number of well-known television shows and videogames. He’s currently the lead in the Xbox original series Halo: Nightfall and has made appearances on The Good Wife and American Horror Story: Coven. He’ll also be lending his vocal talents to the highly anticipated first-person shooter Halo 5: Guardians as Agent Locke, a protagonist which he portrays on the live-action Nightfall series. While Colter is set to play Cage in a number of episodes in A.K.A Jessica Jones, Marvel has been mum in announcing a premiere date for Cage’s own Netflix show.

While fans will certainly be waiting for the Luke Cage series announcement in the coming months, fan speculation about Cage’s role in A.K.A Jessica Jones has already stirred excitement among comic readers. As many die hard Marvel fans know, Jones and Cage are not only well known for their roles and appearances in such comics as Alias, Daredevil, New Avengers and Iron Fist, but they are frequently looked at as one of the most stable and loving couples in all of comics. Cage’s multi-episode appearances all but confirms that Marvel will more than likely explore the early days of their working and personal relationship with one another.

In any case, it’s exciting that Marvel has been moving ahead with casting these highly anticipated shows. Who knows? It’s possible a certain kung-Fu master might pop up in a few episodes to lend a hand to these “heroes for hire.” One can only hope.

What bout you reader? Are you excited about Marvel’s Daredevil and series of other Netflix shows? Thoughts on the Luke Cage casting? Let us know in the comments below!

While braving the snow-swept wasteland of Buffalo, New York for 18 long years, Christopher Herman developed a love for geek culture. A child of the 90s, he was raised on the valuable lessons taught by Batman: The Animated Series, Hey Arnold and Animaniacs. Eventually discovering a passion for movies, books, comics and video games, Chris began hoarding his knowledge of geekdom. Whether it’s Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Mass Effect, Firefly or Avatar: The Last Airbender, he’s always willing to discuss the intricate worlds and stories of geek properties. Chris currently resides in San Marcos, TX.